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A neck lump is a ‘bump’, ‘lump’ or ‘swelling’ in the neck. The presence of a lump in the neck is a common clinical problem.

Finding a lump in the neck can cause considerable anxiety. Fortunately, the majority of neck lumps are benign and not serious. However, cancers of the mouth, throat, voice box (larynx), thyroid, and some lymphomas (blood cancers) can appear first as a painless, growing neck lump. Therefore all neck lumps require timely assessment by an Ear, Nose & Throat consultant.

A lump in the neck persisting for more than three weeks, especially if it is not associated with a cold, flu, or other infection should be assessed by a specialist consultant.

A fixed price for this treatment may be available on enquiry and following an initial consultation.

Spire Cheshire Hospital can provide you with a single, fixed price so there are no surprises. Please read Spire Healthcare's terms and conditions for full details of what’s included and excluded in your fixed price when paying for yourself. Finance options are available through our partner Omni Capital Retail Finance Ltd, 10 Norwich Street, London, EC4A 1BD.

Our patients are at the heart of what we do and we want you to be in control of your care. To us, that means you can choose the consultant you want to see, and when you want. They'll be with you every step of the way.

All of our consultants are of the highest calibre and benefit from working in our modern, well-equipped hospitals.

Our consultants have high standards to meet, often holding specialist NHS posts and delivering expertise in complex sub-specialty surgeries. Many of our consultants have international reputations for their research in their specialised field.

A neck lump is a ‘bump’, ‘lump’ or ‘swelling’ in the neck. The presence of a lump in the neck is a common clinical problem.

Finding a lump in the neck can cause considerable anxiety. Fortunately, the majority of neck lumps are benign and not serious. However, cancers of the mouth, throat, voice box (larynx), thyroid, and some lymphomas (blood cancers) can appear first as a painless, growing neck lump. Therefore all neck lumps require timely assessment by an Ear, Nose & Throat consultant.

A lump in the neck persisting for more than three weeks, especially if it is not associated with a cold, flu, or other infection should be assessed by a specialist consultant.

There are many different causes of neck lumps and the most common are listed below:

Thyroid gland

The thyroid gland is an important hormone gland situated just below the Adam’s apple in the neck. The gland produces a hormone (thyroxine) which is essential to control the body’s metabolism and well-being.

Lumps are very commonly found within this gland. The majority of such nodules are not serious, however about 5% (1 in 20) are cancers, which is why clinical assessment and thorough investigations are required. To investigate thyroid lumps several methods can be used, most frequently an ultrasound scan is performed to assess the lump and to accurately guide a small biopsy from the lump using a fine needle.

Thyroid surgery (thyroidectomy) may be performed for various reasons: if the lump is potentially malignant, a cosmetic issue as a result of its size or if the thyroid is overactive. Surgery can be done through conventional ‘open’ surgery or endoscopically (‘keyhole’ thyroidectomy) for improved cosmetic results.

Parotid gland

The parotid gland is the largest salivary gland, positioned just below the ear and behind the jaw. It produces saliva that helps in the process of chewing foods and swallowing.

Lumps in the Parotid gland are common amongst all ages; the majority are not cancerous; however they sometimes contain cancer cells, which is why thorough investigations are recommended.

Whilst only a small number may be cancerous, benign lumps can still cause their own problems due to increasing size causing unsightly swelling and pain; stones can also form in the gland blocking the ducts which release saliva causing repeated painful swelling and infections.

Again, the most frequently used investigation is an ultrasound scan to both assess the lump and to accurately guide a small biopsy from the lump using a fine needle.

Lymph nodes

Enlargement of lymph nodes – this is the most common cause of new neck lumps. Lymph nodes are part of the immune system, and enlarge when the body rallies to fight an infection. When the infection recedes, lymph swelling should subside as well. If they remain large and especially if they continue to grow in size they require urgent assessment by an ENT surgeon as they may be due to a cancer in the head and neck regions.

Even after you’ve left hospital, we’re still looking after you every step of the way. After treatment for a neck lump, a follow up appointment may be required and ongoing monitoring / treatment may be recommended.

We are committed to delivering excellent individual care and customer service across our network of hospitals, clinics and specialist care centres around the UK. Our dedicated and highly trained team aim to achieve consistently excellent results. For us it's more than just treating patients, it's about looking after people.

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Important to note

The treatment described on this page may be adapted to meet your individual needs, so it's important to follow your healthcare professional's advice and raise any questions that you may have with them.